Five observations from Michigan State football's spring game

Michigan State players and coaches are ready for the Spartans' offense-vs.-defense spring scrimmage Saturday. Video by Chris Solari/DFP

Michigan State receivers Darrell Stewart, left, and Cam Chambers celebrate Stewart's touchdown reception during the first half of an NCAA college football scrimmage Saturday, April 7, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich.(Photo: Al Goldis/AP)

Spots of the ball moved at random to benefit the offense and challenge the defense. Special teams were not live. Time was added and subtracted at coach Mark Dantonio’s discretion

And eventually learning who has been hurt, with their offseason to heal drawing near.

Saturday was a chance for Michigan State’s football program to get a look in game-like conditions in front of a sparse crowd that braved the cold air at Spartan Stadium, equally wanting a glimpse of what to expect this fall coming off their 10-3 season in 2017.

MSU was without starting linebackers Andrew Dowell and Joe Bachie among the 14 players Dantonio said sat out, and the Spartans also lost backup middle linebacker Byron Bullough early in the scrimmage.

Bachie was among the players who dressed but did not play. That group included returning starting left tackle Cole Chewins, returning starting left guard David Beedle, backup linebacker Antjuan Simmons and backup defensive tackle Gerald Owens.

Dowell was among those who did not dress for the game, along with returning starting wide receiver Felton Davis III and backup defensive tackle Naquan Jones. Other reserves included running back Austin Andrews, wide receiver Julian Major, offensive lineman Dimitri Douglas and defensive ends Matt Seybert and Jack Camper.

A few other players who were not expected to play dressed, including running back Weston Bridges and defensive tackle Mufi Hill-Hunt.

MSU will wrap up its spring practices Tuesday, then opens the season at home on Aug. 31 against Utah State.

Backup running backs

Returning senior starter LJ Scott played more than expected, likely in part due to converted safety Andrews not dressing. Andrews had moved because the Spartans lost Madre London to transfer and Gerald Holmes to graduation, and while they await the arrivals of Elijah Collins and LaDarius Jefferson this fall.

That left Scott and backup Connor Heyward to carry the bulk of the load, with the sophomore scoring the first touchdown for offense on a 6-yard run around left end. Heyward also looked good as a pass-catching option out of the backfield when paired with starting quarterback Brian Lewerke.

MSU used a few others in the thin backfield, with sophomore Alante Thomas fumbling three times and losing one before scoring, and fellow walk-on and Saginaw Valley State transfer Noah Sargent also seeing some carries late.

The situation at the position was so tenuous that, late in the game, MSU was using Collin Lucas at fullback with his backup Ben Line in front of him.

Quarterbacks

Lewerke got the starting nod, with redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi at No. 2 and freshman Theo Day as the third-stringer.

Lewerke struggled in the cold early. A high and low pass were two of three incompletions to open the game — all hit their intended targets’ hands. Lombardi, in his first action, opened with a bullet to tight end Matt Sokol for 18 yards.

However, the first- and second-team offensive units both struggled to move the ball the entire first half. Heyward’s touchdown was thanks to Dantonio giving the offense a red-zone possession after five straight punts.

Time was added late in the half for Lombardi to run the 2-minute drill, but he got sacked in the three-and-out drive. Lewerke then entered and led the starters 50 yards in a little over a minute on four completions, finding Darrell Stewart Jr. for 30 yards and the score that closed the first half.

Lombardi led a late scoring drive in the fourth quarter, along with catching the ensuing two-point conversion from Heyward. Then Lombardi threw an 18-yard touchdown to Stewart with 11 seconds left that proved to be the winning score as Dantonio ended the game.

Offensive line

Matt Allen got the nod at center with Lewerke, who took snaps last year from the sophomore’s brother, Brian Allen. Matt Allen appeared to have good command of the rest of the line.

Without Chewins and Beedle, the Spartans started Luke Campbell at left tackle, sophomore Jordan Reid at right tackle, sophomore Kevin Jarvis at right guard and junior Tyler Higby at left guard along with Allen at center.

Redshirt freshman Blake Bueter ran at center with the second-team offensive line and Lombardi early. MSU also gave Higby some snaps, though he and Lombardi had a fumbled snap exchange in the third quarter.

Along with Bueter, the second-team offensive line included AJ Arcuri at right tackle, Bryce Wilker at left guard, Tommy Liesveld at right guard and Mustafa Khaleefah at right tackle.

Michigan State safety David Dowell lines up during the annual spring game Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Spartan Stadium.(Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)

Secondary

The starters were the starters — Justin Layne and Josiah Scott at cornerback, David Dowell and Khari Willis at safety. True freshmen Kalon Gervin (cornerback) and Xavier Henderson (safety) saw action, though veterans Matt Morrissey at safety and Josh Butler and Tyson Smith at cornerback got more time with the top two units.

Defensive end

Junior Justice Alexander started at defensive end opposite returning junior Kenny Willekes, who did not play much in the game. Sophomore Jacub Panasiuk and senior Dillon Alexander were on the second unit, with Panasiuk getting reps with the starters and appearing to be headed toward more significant rotation minutes this fall. They got pressure at times early in the game, but it is hard to gauge their true effectiveness without being able to get a true sack — quarterbacks are only to be touched by defenders.